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SeekingInfo
Apr 17, 2007, 11:51 AM
Hi,
I am a Green card holder. My brother is in US on a F1 visa. He came to US in Aug 2006.
I provided him assistance for his education and paid for his accommodation on campus.

I wanted to claim him as a dependent. He met all the rules for 'relative dependent'
- Not a qualifying child
- He is a close relative (brother)
- His income is not above 3300
- I have paid more than half of his support for 2006

But one other criteria that is mentioned in Pub #501 that he needs to be a US Citizen or US Resident alient.

My brother is here on F1 visa from Asia. So is he a resident alient or a non-resident alien?

Need a quick response to finish the tax return. Please help!

SeekingInfo
Apr 17, 2007, 12:25 PM
Hi,
I am a Green card holder. My brother is in US on a F1 visa. He came to US in Aug 2006.
I provided him assistance for his education and payed for his accomodation on campus.

I wanted to claim him as a dependent. He met all the rules for 'relative dependent'
- Not a qualifying child
- He is a close relative (brother)
- His income is not above 3300
- I have paid more than half of his support for 2006

But one other criteria that is mentioned in Pub #501 that he needs to be a US Citizen or US Resident alient.

My brother is here on F1 visa from Asia. So is he a resident alient or a non-resident alien?

Need a quick response to finish the tax return. Please help!
Any help on this can a F1 visa person be claimed as a dependent if he is US less than 180 days in a year? Hope to hear from someone at the earliest.

AtlantaTaxExpert
Apr 21, 2007, 07:44 AM
Sorry, you CANNOT claim your brother as a dependent, as he is a non-resident alien.

He must be a resident to be claimed.

SimpleTechie
Apr 2, 2008, 11:02 PM
This is a case of "qualifying relative". The definition for qualifying relative is a little vague when it comes to residency. Some websites claim the person has to be a resident alien, some claim he must have been resident for "some" part of the year. Confusing !

MukatA
Apr 3, 2008, 12:10 AM
A dependent must be a U.S. citizen or resident. On F1 you are exempt from residency.

A dependent can be your qualifying child or qualifying relative. Read: Your U.S. Tax Return: Requirements for claiming a dependent (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/03/requirements-for-claiming-dependent.html)